Rotary drive control mechanism



. 8, 1964 R. F. HERETH ROTARY DRIVE CONTROL MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 28, 1962 IN VEN TOR. PLP/-l f' HERZ-7H IgM/2 L M Dec. 8, 1964 R. F. HERETH 3,160,021

ROTARY DRIVE CONTROL MEcHANsM Filed Feb. 28, 1962 s sheets-sheet 2 GX D Dec. 8, 1964 R. F. HERETH ROTARY DRIVE CONTROL. MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 28, 1962 3,166,621 RTARY BRWL CNTRL Ralph F. Hereth, Port Orchard, Wash., assigner to the United States o America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Fiied Feb. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 176,883 3 Claims. (Cl. 7d-89) (Granted under Title 35, ELS. Code (1952), sec. 256) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates to rotary drives and, in particular, to mecharnsms for controlling the length of the pay-ou stroke of a sprocket-driven chain or the like.

A number of mechanisms employ a sprocket-driven chain which, in one mode of operation, is extended or stroked a particular predetermined distance to perform a particular function, while, in another mode, its stroke length either may be shortened or lengthened to accomplish another function.

By Way of illustration, one of the Navys guided missile launchers utilizes a so-called remmer head which, in effect, is a latch carried by a sprocket-driven chain to engage and hoist missiles onto a launcher or tiring-arm. To accomplish the hoist, the rammer head is extended or stroked a iixed distance into a missile magazine Where it engages and picks up the missile. However, the same rammer head is used to lower and stow a missile in the magazine and, obviously, when the missile has been stowed, the head must be brought back up without reengaging the missile. Because of the particular arrangement of parts, this latter operation must be accomplished by lengthening the stroke yof the rammer head. Consequently, the rammer sprocket drive must have both a long and short stroke. v

There, of course, have been a variety of Ways of accomplishing such a desired result and, depending upon the circumstances, one or the other way may be preferred. In most instances, however, the stroke control mechanisms are of a rather specialized character not readily adaptable for other equipment without substantial modication. For example, the missile launcher already considered is essentially a hydraulically powered and controlled piece of equipment which must operate in a precise sequential manner. Control for the operation is at a central panel and may be manual, but it also is essential that the sequence be capable of an entirely automatic cycle. Consequently, its stroke control mechanism should utilize the existing hydraulic power drives. Also, the mechanism should be controllable through its standard hydraulic control mechanisms which include a large nurnberof solenoid-operated pilot valves controlling main valves to produce particular actions at particular instances according. to signals or information electrically sensed during each operation and transmitted'through relays to initiate the next step. '1 v As indicated, the prior art mechanisms mostly are too specialized to be simply and effectively adapted for this hydraulic system. Other factors to be considered are that ordnance equipment of this type is subject to extremely heavy shock and to very unfavorable operating environments so that sturdiness and reliability under such conditions is a yprime requisite. Safety is another consideration because oi` the hazards involved in handling missiles. f

United States Patent O In summation, the prior art mechanisms designed to accomplish the general purposes of the present invention have been found decient in one or another respect as far as their ability to fulll the requisites of ahydraulic system such as that used by such a missile launcher. On the other hand, it, of course, is not considered that the utility of the present invention is limited either to missile launchers in general or to a system such as that already described. Y

It is therefore an object of the present invention to lprovide a fluid pressure operated and controlled mechanism for controlling the stroke of a rotary drive.

Another object is to Vprovide such a mechanism asy a part of a sequentially-operated hydraulic complex in which the sequential operations are hydraulically initiated and accomplished in response to automatically re-V layed information.

A more general object is to provide a simple, reliable, sturdy rotary drive stroke control mechanism which can be remotely controlled.

Another general object is to provide a mechanism for controlling la missile launcher chain hoist to produce a long and short stroke of the chain.

A further object is to provide a rotary drive stroke control mechanism vvhich can be easily adjusted to vary the stroke length by precise increments. A related object is to provide such a rotary drive stroke control mechanism in which the stroke control is directly responsive to the rotational advance of the drive.

Further objects are to obtain a mechanism that is corn- Which is formed mostly of long-Wearing standard parts- Which can be readily stocked and easily substituted as a need arises.

Other objects and their attendant advantages will become apparent in the ensuing detailed description.

A preferred embodiment or" the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which:

FG. 1 is a perspective view in elevation of the mechanism associated with a missile launcher rammer head chain hoist, a sector of the mechanism being shown in section; Y

FIG. V2 is a horizontal section through the stroke coutrol mechanism of FIG. l; and

FIG. 3 is an end view ot the mechanism in which a central aocess cover has beenV removed for simplification and also in which a Lstroke control cylinder and switch mechanism are shown in section.

Referring to FG. 1 of the drawings, the `illustratedl mechanism of the invention is shown incorporated in a y missile launcher of the type previously discussedto coritrol the stroke of a rammel' head l which, as seen, is carried at the end of a chain 2 that, in turn, passes around an idler sprocket 3 and a drive sprocket 4 into a chain motor to decelerate the rammer headas it approaches.

critical positions and to perform other functions not presently important. v

ln practice, the magazine, as Well as the present control mechanism,` kboth are supported on a launcher firing arm While the B-end motor is fixed to a stationary part of a turret supporting the arm.

quired to shift laterally to position rammer head 1 for engaging magazine-stowed missiles. Therefore, Vas will be appreciated, the drive of the chain is somewhat'cornplicated since the parts must telescope to accommodate the lateral shift of the arm. In operation, the rotary drive extends or strokes chain 2 to move rammer head 1 into a missile magazine where, in one mode of operationfthe chain engages and hoists avmissile back onto the arm. Supportfor the rammer head and chain is provided during the strokes by aligned rails carried by the arm and also by the magazine. When the missile is to be engaged and rammed onto the arm, the rammer head is stroked a fixed distanceinto'the magazine where its latched portion engages a missile shoe for hoisting purposes. This fixed distance can be termed its short stroke. In another mode of operation the rammer head is used to load the magazine, and, in this situation, the head is engaged with an arm-supported missile which then is lowered bythe chain into a stored position in the magazine. Of course, it then Also, the launcher arm is reis desirable to return the chain without a missile and this action `is achieved by causing the chain to extend a greater distance into the magazine to a point Where its latch mechanism is rendered inoperative. This greater distance is designated as a long stroke. tion of the presently-illustrated control mechanism is to selectively permiteither the short or long stroke in response to a control order and in a timed relationship with a complex of other actions which must occur either sequentially or concurrently.

Before describing this control mechanism, it may be helpful'to note that FiG. 1 illustrates a special hydraulic latch mechanism 1t? which primarily is a safety feature of the launcher and which forms no part of the present invention. Since it does not affect present operations, it

. der 13 and a switch mechanism 14;,.the last appearing only in FIGS. 1 and 3. Universal joint 11 is a; constant velocity type used to couple drive shaft 7 to drive sprocket 4, and, `as seen, it is enclosed in a bell housing'l formed with a splined stub shaft portion 1'7 that mounts sprocket 4. At its drive shaft end, the housing is closed byQa cover 13 secured to the housing and a retainer 19 Within which the cover and housing rotate in response to the drive of shaft 4. More specifically, cover`18 is formed with a shoulder 21 that rides in a bearing 22 supported by the retainer, the coupling being provided with appropriate lubrication seals. As seen, retainer 19 provides partial support for the mechanism through a circumfer-Y ential liange 2,3 bolted to the launcher arm. bell housing 16 is entirely conventional.

Stroke control mechanism-12 essentially is contained in a timing shaft housing 24 carried by a split ring 26 also bolted' to the launcher arm. Interiorly of housing 24-` is an axially-extending shaft 27 which mounts a'radially-projecting screw 2.8 meshed `with housing threads 29 which, as shown, extend only along ythe left hand portion ofthe housing bore. In other words, the bore also has Interiorly,

i at its right hand end an Unthreaded or smooth-walled yportion 31.

"At its left hand end, shaft 27 isv secured in an internal spline of stub shaft 17 Vso that housing ldand shaft 27 rotate as a unit with drive shaft 7. At the same time, housing 24 is a stationary member so thatfscrew 28 can advancealong its threads 29, vit being noted that shaft 27 has axially-extending splines on which thescrew is mounted'for straightlinev advancing movement relative to the shaft.' j

.To permit shaft Z7 and drive sprocket 4 to rotate, housing 24 is supported on bearings 33, thefhousing having Obviously then, the func-` s of rotational advance of the screw.

a shoulder 34 to support the bearings which are held in place by a retainer 35 bolted to the housing and alsol portion 36 of drive sprocket 4 and a ring 37 secures the assembly. Y

Another quite significant feature is that the forward or leading Vface of screw 23 is formed with a diametricallyextending harige 38 which forms one half of a jaw, the function of which is to advance into engagement with another jaw (to be described) to stop the rotary drive of the sprocket at a predetermined increment of its rotational advance.

'Ihe remaining parts of mechanism 12 are mounted in Unthreaded portion 31 of the housing. Generally, they include a torque stop sleeve member 39 and a hub-like stop member 41, sleeve 39 being rotatably iitted into portion 31 and hub 41 being splined to the interior wall of the sleeve so as to be capable of rotation with sleeve 3? as Well as straight-line movement relative to it. The other portion of the jaw is provided on the inwardly facing portion of hub 4l in the form of another diametrically-extending iiange 42. Obviously, screw 2S will advance until its jaw flange engages hub liange 42.

Another feature of the invention is themanner in which flange 42 of hub 41 is set or adjusted to permit a long or short rammer head stroke and `also to vary the length of either stroke. First, it will be readily apparent that, if the angular orientation of liange 42 is varied relative to that of flange 38, the jaws will engage at differing degrees lore specilically, in the illustrated embodir ent, if flange 42 is rotated clockwise relative to the vcounterclockwise advancing movement ofthe screw, the extend stroke of the drive sprocket will be shortened. The reverse, of course, also pertains.

Stroke control cylinder V13 Ais. used to set the position of harige 4.2 to vary the sprocket stroke, this cylinder mechanism being coupled to the hub 41 in a unique manner to provide positive control in a reliable and precise manner. More specifically, it will be noted in FIGS. l and 3 that the control cylinder mechanism includes a cylinder casing 43 bolted to timing shaft housing 24 and reciprocably mounting a pistonV 44 coupled to a connecting rod portion 46 which, in turn, is pinned, by a pin 47, to a roll spring d8. A `spacer ring 50 holds roll spring 48 at a fixed distance and, in practice, the ring may be ground during installation for precise adjustment. Hydraulic pressure is applied to cylindercasing 43 through a stroke decrease port 49 at its upperend and a stroke increase port 51 at its lower end. In the customary manner one or the other of the ports couple the applied pressure to tank through a control valve and the control valve can be operated by a solenoid-actuated pilot valve, 'the solenoids of which are energized through the systems chain of interlock switches and relays.

To couple the piston drive to thejaw of hub 41, torque adapted to partially encircle and griproll spring 43. As

shown in FIG. 2, each of the flanges 52 and 53 is formed Vof a pair of front and rear members 54 and 56 and theY roll spring extends transversely across these members.

Because of the split nature of the roll spring, it can contract and expand to suit the needs of its operation.

It alsois important to note that the Unthreaded portion 31 of housing 24 has'a 'side wall'` portion 57 diametrically enlarged to provide an interior space 58 between its interior Wallsurface and the circumferentialV surface'of sleeve 39, andY that lianges 52 and S3 project radially into this space to grip the roll spring.. Consequently, v when piston i4 is reciprocate@ its connecting rod and roll spring, which are `disposedftangentially of sleeve 39can move up and down in space S8.

v Obviously, because roll-spring is gripped by sleeve anges 52 and 53,

torque sleeve 39 is rotated by the spring and rod movement, and the sleeve rotation is imparted .to stop hub 41 due to the splined engagement of this hub. .law 42 of the hub can thus be positioned by piston reciprocation. As already indicated, downward movement of the piston turns the hub clockwise to engage advancing screw 28 sooner and produce a short stroke. Upward movement of the piston returns the hub to its long stroke position.

During the up and down movement of roll spring 4S, its outer surface engages the inner wall of side wall portion S7 of the housing and, as seen, this engagement helps to hold the roll spring within the grip of iianges 52 and 53. However, this arrangement of the roll spring also is utilized to operate a pair of switch mechanisms 59 and 61 the function of these being to sense the position of the hubs jaw 42 and relay this information to other launcher components. For example, it will be apparent that different functions occur during a short stroke of the rammer head than during its long stroke. The switches then act through relays to energize the solenoids of pilot valves to initiate the desired sequence of events.

As shown, each switch mechanism includes a plunger 62 projecting into space 58 in the path of movement of the roll spring, the plungers bearing against switch buttons 63 to actuate conventional switches. The mechanisms are mounted in casings 64 carried by the housing.

The remaining signiiicant structure is an assembly used to enclose the right hand end of housing 24 and `also to permit an initial adjustment or re-adjustments of hub 41 relative to sleeve 39. Thus, the end of the housing is closed by a plate 66 bolted to the housing and a cover 67 bolted to the plate. Plate 66, as seen, has a threaded central opening to receive an adjustment screw 68 having a nut 69 by means of which it can be advanced or retracted. Interiorly of the housing screw 68 mounts a anged disc 71 the radial flange of which clamps loosely about an interior liange 72 of hub 41. To permit this arrangement, hub 41 is formed with a central bore 73 on which flange 72 is formed. lin the obvious manner, rotation of screw 68 transmits its advance or retract motion to hub 41 which then can be moved axially of sleeve 39. This adjustment is used to assure a full length contact between the jaw clutch anges.

Central bore 73 also is provided to rotatably support the inner end portion of timing shaft 27, this end portion being received in the bore and the interior surface'of the bore mounting bearings 74 so that the shaft can rotate independently of the hub and its associated members.

The advantages and operation of the mechanism have been considered and Will be reviewed only briefly. If the apparatus is used for controlling the stroke length of a missile handling rammer head, the so-called short stroke is predetermined by initially setting the orientation of diametrically-extending ange 42. To achieve the desired orientation uid pressure is admitted to stroke control cylinder 13 through port-49, this pressure driving piston 44 and its connecting rodportion 46 outwardly or, as shown in FIG. l, downwardly. Portion 46 being pinned to roll spring 48, the downward movement is irnparted to the spring which then produces a rotation of torque sleeve 39 due to the close engagement of the spring by gripping flanges S2 and 53 of the sleeve (see FIG. 3 Finally, the rotation of sleeve 39 is imparted to hub 4,1 and to its diametrically-extending ange 42 due to the splined interengagement of these two members.

Having achieved the initial desired orientation of flange i 42, the rammer head then is advanced by utilizing the power source (B-end hydraulic Vmotor) to drive shaft 7 and its coupled chain sprocket 4. The chain is paidout until diametrically-extending flange 41 of driven screw 28 engages its Ymating stop or limit iange 42. Retraction of the chain, of course, is achieved by reversing the drives. Y

For a so-called long stroke, anger42 is' rotated counterclockwise from its short strokeposition by admitting uid pressure to port 51 of control cylinder 13. The

degree of rotation of ange 42, of course, is principally a matter of design. Y Y

The advantages lie inthe manner in which theentire ,arrangement readily adapts itself to the hydraulic system of the launcher or to other similar systems. The stroke control is very positive and precise because of the obvious relationship between the rotational advance of the screw with the rotational advance or drive of the chain sprocket. Also, the manner in which the stroke length is set is unusually simple and reliable plus being capable of remote control as well as fully automatic control. It further should be noted that the length of either the long or short stroke can be adjusted in several manners. Thus, screw 28 can be repositioned on its shaft by changing its spline tooth engagement so as to change the initial angular orientation of its jaw iiange. The same is true of hub 41 which can be repositioned relative to its sleeve 39 by changing its spline tooth engagement. In practice, changing the spline engagement of the screw by one spline tooth changes the length of rammer chain travel by 1.340 inches. Also, changing the position of hub 41 by one spline tooth changes rammer chain travel by .694 inch.

Another substantial advantage is achieved by the particular switching mechanism whichv closely coordinates with therstroke control to signal stroke control information at precisely the right moment. In a launcher system precise and reliable sequencing is essential because of the extreme hazards involved.

Obviously many modiications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of ythe above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. Rotary drive apparatus for stroking a reciprocably driven member comprising a drive shaft, means for rotatably driving said shaft, stroke control means provided with a jaw flange and keyed to and reciprocably advancable along said shaft, means responsive to said shaft r0- tations for advancing said control means, a driven-member sprocket carried by the shaft between said control means and said drive means, and stroke limit means for engaging said control means jaw flange and restricting said shaft and sprocket rotation, said limit means including a stop means having a jaw ilange disposed in said path of advance of said control means flange, a piston, iiuid pressure means for controllably reciprocating said piston, and means coupling said piston to said stop means, said coupling means rotating said stop means in response to piston reciprocation for orienting its jaw ange relative to said control means iiange for, stopping said control meansV at varying degrees of advance, whereby the stroke of said sprocket is selectively controllable.

2. The apparatus of claim l wherein said coupling means includes a roll spring, a yconnecting rod coupled at one end Ito said piston and at the other to said roll spring, and roll spring gripping anges carried by said stop means, said connecting rod being disposed to engage gripping means, and said hub member being formed with said jaw tiange, whereby said connecting rod rotates said sleeve to rotate said hub and orient said hub jaw liange, said apparatus further including adjustable means engaging said hub member for moving said hub relative' `to-,said sleeve whereby saidrhub iiange can be initially positioned relative to said timing vmeans jaw ange; v f

(References on followlg page) j References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS' Schjolin 74--526 X Gibson et al. 74-424.8 5 Linsey 74-335 Forwald 74-424Q8 8 Schmidt 74-102 X Robinson et a1 74,-424.8 X Gunberg 74-135 .74 Thompson 74-10.2 X Sears 74-424.8

BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. ROTARY DRIVE APPARATUS FOR STROKING A RECIPROCABLY DRIVEN MEMBER COMPRISING A DRIVE SHAFT, MEANS FOR ROTATABLY DRIVING SAID SHAFT, STROKE CONTROL MEANS PROVIDED WITH A JAW FLANGE AND KEYED TO AND RECIPROCABLY ADVANCABLE ALONG SAID SHAFT, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID SHAFT ROTATIONS FOR ADVANCING SAID CONTROL MEANS, A DRIVEN-MEMBER SPROCKET CARRIED BY THE SHAFT BETWEEN SAID CONTROL MEANS AND SAID DRIVE MEANS, AND STROKE LIMIT MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID CONTROL MEANS JAW FLANGE AND RESTRICTING SAID SHAFT AND SPROCKET ROTATION, SAID LIMIT MEANS INCLUDING A STOP MEANS HAVING A JAW FLANGE DISPOSED IN SAID PATH OF ADVANCE OF SAID CONTROL MEANS FLANGE, A PISTON, FLUID PRESSURE MEANS FOR CONTROLLABLY RECIPROCATING SAID PISTON, AND MEANS COUPLING SAID PISTON TO SAID STOP MEANS, SAID COUPLING MEANS ROTATING SAID STOP MEANS IN RESPONSE TO PISTON RECIPROCATION FOR ORIENTING ITS JAW FLANGE RELATIVE TO SAID CONTROL MEANS FLANGE FOR STOPPING SAID CONTROL MEANS AT VARYING DEGREES OF ADVANCE, WHEREBY THE STROKE OF SAID SPROCKET IS SELECTIVELY CONTROLLABLE. 